"Fire… Earth… Air… Water… The magnificent ruling elements…
Fire first spread and burned through the ether… It created a magnificent sight—brightness burning among the darkness. O, what a sight! Fire burning through the darkness, giving hope to anything that looked upon.
Earth then followed it, ensuring it long life. Supportive of her friend, indeed! It trailed behind fire, wherever it went! Blindly going on and on! Circling! A dense sphere of rock burning of flame! O, a sight, a sight! Flying through the ether of the darkness! It slowed… And slowed… And stopped—looking more magnificent stationary! O, how beautiful a sight! Unmatched beauty indeed!
Water too spread its surface to the far regions of the universe—avoiding the dense burning rock Christened: Sol—until it spread as far as it chose to—for it could indeed go farther! It reverted in direction then at speeds too high to be matched! When it hit, it caused a thunderous sound, rumbling the ether and creating a light. Dimmer, though, than the light of the Sol, the newly Christened Lun was formless. Free-floating, it was water with light woven into it.
Air saw this and was not at ease. Air flowed around the area of the light-water and rounded it up into a sphere similar to Sol. It was the same size, of course—for it would need be to keep up the plans for what would be between the creation of Sol and Lun.
Days passed and the four Elements created nine spheres between Sol and Lun. The first from Sol was composed of Earth. The second of Air and Earth. The third—oh so special to the elements—was composed of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The fourth of Air, Fire, and Earth—Water contributed too little to be counted. The fifth of Air. The sixth of Water and Air. The seventh, eighth, and ninth composed of Water, Air, and Fire.
Days passed and the elements grew weary. They had done the most work since ever. They decided that their essences would forever live on. For that, they created man and put him on the third planet. They all had something to contribute.
Earth created the dust. Water made it mud. Fire dried it up. And Air made it bode.
They created another—however, with a body made for nourishment. And with that, they all went their separate ways—vowing always to meet once again.
Earth took refuge in the ground, providing the humans with food—but that was only if Water promised to visit. Water took to the valleys of earth and allowed for life-maintenance—but only if Fire would invite Water up every so often to relocate him where he wished to be. Fire dwelled in Sol, providing earth with energy—only if, however, Air would support him with a better medium than ether. Air was nomadic—everywhere. She provided people with gasses to do various things—only if Earth would create high mountain peaks for Air to rest undisturbed. Working together, the Elements did the mighty.
In their last day, they made a pact. They would inhabit the four most powerful beings on the planet. They would then pass themselves on with each generation. To this, they vowed.
Fire embedded himself into Godric Gryffindor—the hero of the village Hollow who was famous for his ruby-encrusted sword and fiery-red mane. He resembled a lion and was most associated with it. He taught young wizards and witches many things including valor.
Earth melded with Helga Hufflepuff, the pleasantly plump schoolteacher who was known all around for her loyalty and fairness. She never left a soul behind. She taught those who were as loyal as she and who valued group-work.
Water slipped into Salazar Slytherin, the supreme judge of all the land. He was stone-faced and judgmental of everything. He was as rigid as the mysterious miracle-stick he carried around. He was the one to see the inner ambition in everyone—everyone who came from the right folk of course.
Air flowed into Rowena Ravenclaw, the distant, aloof woman from Fen always with a book in her hand. In her school, she taught everyone who had a wit of intelligence. Her school was of the most variety—it focused on both intellect and creativity in their craft.
Having a natural affinity for one another, they went out seeking each other. And as if by magic (which had been used by each of the elements personified), Gryffindor arrived from the North, Hufflepuff from the East, Ravenclaw from the West, and Slytherin from the South. While talking about their experiences, they spoke of the idea of creating a school where they all taught.
Each had an attribute and skill to pass onto a new generation of young witches and wizards. With a particular ease, they began to create the school; half with magic, the other half with elemental powers. After grueling months, they created a castle that reached to the skies and extended to the corners of Earth. O, how magnificent!
From there, they created quarters for themselves.
Great Gryffindor took the highest reaching tower. Great valor and courage he'd shown in war—he deserved it indeed, no?
Humble Hufflepuff chose to take the cellars. It was quite cozy and close to the ground floor. For she wanted to allow her students easy access to their resting places.
Rampant-for-Reading Ravenclaw added a tower to the west. She said that she could see Fen under the sunset each night silhouetted and almost fully during the sunrise from the east. No one else could, but she swore it, so they let it be.
Secretive Slytherin chose the dungeons. It was the dark and dreary ambiance that attracted him. He believed he could have his privacy down there while disturbing or arousing interest from anyone else in whatever project he wanted to complete."
"And that, students, is the story of the personified elements. I have come into possession of the elements—in their raw forms. Seeing as how they choose their personifications," Professor McGonagall paused and took a good look at each of the students of Hogwarts all gathered in the Great Hall, "I hope for your sakes, you have been noble and deserving."
She sighed. "I warn you though; the elements are partial to the houses of the first humans they first inhabited. Please don't be discouraged if you are not chosen—after all, there are only four." She was obviously not used to pacifying students. With a relatively larger sigh, she took a small orb decked with four swirls of colors (Red, Brown, White, and Blue) in the middle switching between them. She tapped the orb with her wand and said, "Releasius Ani!"
First, the Blue swirl extended out. It flew up and came down, hovering high over the Slytherin table. It was as though it was deciding who was most noble. In a squirt, it darted into Draco Malfoy's mouth. It then had a seemingly second thought and flew out of his nose (causing tears of extreme discomfort to the blonde) and into that of Blaise Zabini, sitting opposite of him. From the looks of it, he was enjoying the sensation of it swishing around in his mouth on its own. It obviously went down quite easily.
Next, the Brown swirl slinked in the air with small shockwaves pulsating from it. As though pre-decided, it went right in front of Zacharias Smith. He looked at it defiantly before it went with a heavy blow into his chest. He sputtered in a fit of coughing and gagging before recomposing himself.
Anticipation for the last two swirls aroused when smartly, the white one came out. It swirled easily and lazily in the air, looking for the one. It stopped before Anthony Goldstein and went into a crack in his closed mouth quite easily. When he exhaled through his nose, it flew out. It went into his nostril and he seemed a tad stupefied before he shook it off and looked amazed at the aspect of himself being chosen.
The room went silent as the red swirl expelled from the orb and into the air. It instantly went to the Gryffindor table where it went up and down a few times. It stopped over four students: Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Ronald Weasley, and Harry Potter. It lowered itself between the four. With two on each side, it seemed to be able to dart into any of their mouths at any moment. It took a moment to decide. It forwarded itself in front of Harry and Ron. It edged over to Ron and then to Harry.
It then slowly went to Harry's lips and to tip of his tongue. It rolled itself on his tongue before it sprang out and into Ronald Weasley's mouth. Surprised, he hissed and it wriggled down his throat. Looking as though he swallowed a hot pepper, he began to redden. After a moment though, he exhaled a breath of smoke.
A minute after it was over, there was much groaning and booing. Draco Malfoy could be distinctly heard shouting 'Do-over!' Nothing but cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table though. It was infectious, as everyone else began cheering as well. One Hermione Granger expected to see Harry slightly upset, but he seemed more relieved than she had ever recalled seeing him. With that, she smiled.